Lookee HERE, Clem !
Why that thar look like GOLD!
Yep ... C'MON ... let's get to the surveyer's ...
and off they went
The climate/geography pictured, especially the tree, is identical to my own west of Austin.
To set a rifle like that means you aren’t wandering far from it.. maybe to sip out of a stream or do private business before you set camp. The owner got snatched by something or someone who didn’t see him set the rifle.
Question is, why was the guy there in the first place? Quite remote as the rifle was never noticed by anyone thereafter.